NUTS FOR BROWNIES

I found this recipe for vegan brownies on the internet a while back and have been wanting to make them ever since but somehow never got round to it. Last night I finally pulled all of the ingredients together and gave it a whirl while the boyfriend was out, as me + baking = lot's of mess in our open plan kitchen.

The photographs really don't do these brownies justice (I'm working on upgrading my camera soon) as these were scrum-diddly-umptious if I do say so myself! The consistency was just right, a key component to making the perfect brownies. For me they've got to be gooey in the middle and slightly harder on the outside with plenty of chocolate so they're nice and moist. I even added my own dairy-free chocolate chips (80g), from Wholefoods and 3 big spoonfuls (or 100g) of organic Whole Earth peanut butter to give it some oomph. 

I was shocked by the measurements as it seemed like a lot and it turned out it was! It gave me so many brownies I don't know what I'm going to do with them all. Safe to say I'll be palming them off on to friends and family all week long. The pics show the big ole slabs I first cut them into but I will be cutting them down to halves or even bitesize chunks, after finding out how gooily rich they are!

Although not the healthiest of recipes we all need a sugar fix now and again and these brownies will certainly do the trick! (to be enjoyed in moderation of course...).

MY VERSION: WAGAMAMAS CHILLI MEN

Wagamamas Yasai Chilli Men

When I first went vegan I was worried I wouldn't be able to eat out with my friends and family like I used to, for fear of every vegetarian option on the menu consisting of either cheese or egg (am I right?). I needn't have worried as most places, especially big chains (weirdly enough) are fairly accommodating to meet your dietary requirements and will often omit the dairy ingredient from any given dish.

One of my favourite places to eat out has always been Wagamamas (partly because I can convince myself it's Japanese and therefore healthy). Thankfully they are very accommodating to vegans and even have a dietary guide available on request to aid you in your decision making. Most of the veggie noodle/soup dishes can be made vegan by swapping the egg noodles to udon noodles. Or by simply asking them to leave out the egg in dishes such as the Yasai Cha Han and the Pad Thai. However I have heard the pickles that come with the Cha Han contain milk (I don't know why either) so stay away from those!

As far as desserts go I'm pretty sure there's no choice but to opt for their real fruit ice lollies. If you try the cherry one you won't even care, it's amazing!

As a vegan my new favourite dish on their menu is the Yasai Chilli Men with udon noodles, the meal is very filling and quite spicy with loads of flavour. The tofu and vegetables come in huge chunks of deliciousness and this is one of those dishes that actually tastes better with the Udon noodles! This rainy weekend I ended up walking along the river thames at night, it was getting very chilly and dark so I couldn't wait to huddle into Wagamamas and be presented with a hot plate of spicy chilli men, the perfect antidote to a cold a winter's evening.

If you don't have a Wagamamas restaurant nearby, or you would prefer to cook your own it's a very easy dish to replicate. You can even buy a jar of Wagamamas own brand spicy chilli men sauce from the supermarket and simply stir fry it in a big wok with these ingredients:

- 1 block of firm tofu, I recommend Dragonfly organic tofu (also available from Wholefoods and Holland and Barratt).
- Approx 2tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 courgettes
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 packet of mangetout
- 1/2 pack of white button mushrooms
- 1/2 a green pepper
- 1/2 a red pepper
- Pinch of salt
- Soy sauce/hot sauce to taste (optional)
- 2 parcels of Udon noodles boiled separately (I recommend the Clearspring organic ones).

This meal serves two (simply double the ingredients if you want to feed four). Sorry for the not very accurate measurements as this is my own made up recipe!

My version of Yasai Chilli Men 

Let me know if you make this at home, I'd love to hear your results. Do you have a favourite vegan dish when dining out?

FAUX FIX: DESIGNER PICKS

L:R: Falabella Bag // Faux Fur Coat // Vinyl Pencil Skirt // Cotton Shirt // Leopard Slippers // Lip Print Sweater

When I tell some people that I'm a vegan I think they are a bit taken aback, as though it's not a normal thing to be. So I want to show the world that us vegans are 'normal' too and can enjoy everything that meat eaters do! In fact I'm more convinced than ever that the vegan diet should be what's considered normal, having recently watched the documentary Forks over Knives, which examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.

While my ideals of what's ethical may have changed, my love for fashion has always remained, I've just made a few adjustments to my wardrobe (as well as my diet) along the way (see post). I've been interested in fashion since my early childhood, I would spend hours playing with my fashion wheel game (we didn't have iPads back then) and even went on to pursue my dream of becoming a fashion designer at College and University. 

Most of the time designers like to use real leather, fur and silk, after all that's where your money is going (or so they would like you to believe) so when you pay a designer price tag you would expect it to be the 'real' deal. Therefore it's often harder to pick out higher end items that are vegan friendly. Stella McCartney is probably the most well known for being an ethical designer, as a lifelong vegetarian her collections contain no leather or fur. However some garments are made from silk and wool so not all items are vegan, but for vegan shoes and bags Stella McCartney would be my first designer of choice - if only I could afford it! 

I've taken the liberty of painstakingly (yeah right) searching through Net-A-Porter to find the most on trend (vegan) designer picks of the moment. It's just annoying that there's no 'one' designer company that does all vegan items with a sustainable ethos to match. At the minute the best we can do is pick and choose our peices but hopefully with more people buying these items and shunning the skins we are persuading them to make more and forgo the unnecessary cruelty...

The pic above is what I like to call the 'tough yet cuddly' look, that you could wear during the day, to work or even dress up in the evening with a different top and some heels. You can also get the Falabella bag in a fold up version that works as a clutch too, so that would be a worthy investment if ever I saw one ;). Personally I'd would wear all of these items together as I love the contrasting prints and textures of the faux fur and the shiny vinyl. The sweater over a pencil skirt look was seen at Jonathan Saunders and seems so perfect this winter. On colder days I'd wear the shirt underneath the jumper so the crisp white collar is poking out (my favourite look at the minute). Overall a versatile and layered Winter look that's cruelty free! Now who wants to sponsor me to wear it?... anyone??

Can you recommend any other ethical/vegan designers?

SKINCARE: BOOTS BOTANICS

With the air getting colder and my skin becoming increasingly dryer, I've been on the lookout for some natural, or as close to natural skincare products as I can get. Online is probably your best bet when trying to scour something truly pure and vegan, alas I was down to my last make-up wipe and needed a replacement quick so I headed down to my local Boots.

Doubtful I would find anything I was happy with on the high street I had a look anyway and was pleasantly surprised to see the Boots Botanics range has had a makeover and offering skincare that's between 80 and 100% organic.

Hand Cream // Cleanser // Day Cream

The products were all great to use, I put them on before I went to bed last night. The initial application of the moisturiser made my skin feel slightly tightened but I awoke to find my skin soft and clear this morning. I believe they must have changed the formula, that or the organic one is the only one that agrees with my skin, as I tried the normal botanics moisturiser last year and broke out in a nasty rash! 

The cleanser removed my makeup really well, quickly and easily - which is exactly what I was looking for, being a self confessed lazy makeup wipe abuser. I'm glad I made the change to cleanser as my current brand of make up wipes were actually beginning to sting my eyes. I won't name names but they're a VERY well known brand that claims to be natural (in a round about way) with 'no chemicals, no alcohol, perfume or colour', so I was surprised to find the ingredients listed as Methyparaban and Propylparaben, you can read more about these controversial ingredients here. 

As I was weighing up which products to get in the store (I frequently spend hours in stores doing this!) I googled Boots products and their statement to someone who enquired was:

"Thanks for your enquiry regarding our Botanics range.

I am pleased to confirm that all of this range will be suitable for vegetarians, as it does not contain any animal ingredients.

None of the Boots branded products are tested on animals."

Which led me to believe they were ok for vegans too, however I did notice when I got home that the Botanics day moisturiser does contain beeswax which is considered by some to not be a vegan ingredient. Being a transitioning vegetarian, I am still on the fence about this one, I definately don't eat honey anymore as I'm aware of the damage this causes to the bees (read: here) however the beeswax extraction seems like a non-harmful process. While it is still an animal by-product, the bees don't need the wax and the collection of it doesn't harm them in the process (that I'm aware of). Please correct me if I'm wrong as I am still forming opinions about this...

What natural skincare products do you use?

FAUX FIX: BIKERS

The weather can't make up it's mind from one day to the next and it's not quite winter coat weather just yet (except when venturing out in the evenings brrr!). So for Autumn I'm craving a vegan friendly, faux leather biker jacket to layer up with cosy jumpers, hats and scarfs. 

L-R: Nasty Gal // Topshop // Miss Selfridge // River Island // The WhitePepper at ASOS

Above is my selection of the best bikers around at the moment. I've been wanting the cropped Nasty Gal jacket since well forever so I'm glad they're still stocking it but I haven't plucked up the courage to order it yet since it has to be shipped from the US. I've tried the Topshop biker on and since it's now gone down to £40 I may have to purchase it. I love the quilted sleeves and the lining is really quite warm so you would get some wear out of it in the winter too. 

The White Pepper is a really cool brand to watch at the moment, they're doing exceptionally well, having started out as a marketplace seller on ASOS and now being sold as a concession in Topshop, so I predict great things to come. They also do a killer (with no killing involved) PU skirt available here. 

THE POWER OF RED LIPSTICK

When I'm not designing sustainable fashion I work as a part-time concession manager for a lovely 1940s style brand. Yesterday my boss told me I looked the part with my red lipstick on and am now convinced that's one of the main reasons I got the job in the first place (having worn a red lip to my interview). Never underestimate the power of a red lip I say - this shall be my mantra from now on, especially when I can't be bothered to apply it at 7am in the morning.

When I think of red lips I think of all the powerful female style icons; Marilyn Monroe, Dita Von Tease, Gwen Stefani and Elizabeth Taylor. I know red lipstick is not for everyone but don't knock it till you've tried it. It can be a little bit daunting at first if you've never worn it before, as it's very "hey look at me", but once you start wearing it you'll soon notice the huge difference it makes. Not only to the way you look but also to your head, it somehow manages to instantly cheer me up and give me more confidence, like I can walk tall and take on the world (cheesey but true!).

So lipstick shouldn't be your only source of confidence but some days we all need a little extra help, for example if I have something important going on that day or a meeting to attend, you will definitely find me rocking a red lip. Red lipstick can work in any situation making it great for everyday, special occasions and evenings out. I even heard a story of a woman putting on red lipstick before giving birth as it made her feel stronger!

Having recently switched to au natural cosmetics (see my previous post on lead in lipstick) I have been searching for an alternative to replace my YSL Le Orange lipstick. After turning vegan I was disgusted to learn that carmine was an ingredient, also the fact that YSL was rated as having the most lead content in it's lipsticks is seriously not worth it, especially when you factor in how much of it you consume in a day (lipstick sandwich anyone?) I've been loving Lily Lolo's range but there wasn't a red bright enough to hit the spot, so I headed to the Bare Minerals make-up counter in Debenhams as they have a new(ish) range of bright colours in their 'Moxie' line.

I've tried to show you guys the exact shade of the Moxie I chose in the pics. The colour is Live It Up as it was the closest match to the Le Orange that I could find. Again the colour is great but the application is not so much... I find it really hard to apply without looking like a toddler that's been at the raspberry jam! I wore it to a wedding and then the reception afterwards and must have re-applied it around 5-6 times, although I did eat and drink a LOT that day so I won't pass judgement on it's staying power just yet. It also seems to feather when you first apply but tissue blotting helps that, having looked at their website I've noticed a few others commenting on the feathering issue as well. They do sell a lip primer and liner to match (as recommended in their tutorial video) so I may have to dig deep and give them a go too as I don't want to give up on it yet. All in all it's a great shade with a very hydrating texture and I love the fact that's it's an au natural red (with no carmine!).

You can read all about the fascinating history of red lipstick and it's many trials and tribulations here.

Do you have any recommendations for a good natural red lippy? Please leave your comments below...

TERRIFIC TURMERIC TOFU

I have been adding turmeric to my favourite tofu scramble for a while now, mainly as it gives it that yellow 'egg' look and also because I love the warm taste and fragrance it gives to an otherwise (let's face it) pretty bland dish, but it wasn't until this week that I discovered the long list of fantastic health benefits it has too, such as:

1.) Combating depression

2.) Anti-inflammatory properties

3.) Preventative cancer blocking

4.) Radiation reduction (from daily usage of mobile/cell/cordless phones etc.)

5.) Boots the immune system 

And too many more to mention here! You can read more about the fantastic benefits of turmeric here.

Above: Linda McCartney vegetarian sausages (vegan friendly), tofu, spinach, onions and tomatoes.

I love this dish as you can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner! It's so easy to make and you can get lots of veggies in one go if you chuck 'em all in to the mix. Be sure to use organic tofu though as 89 percent of soy beans grown are genetically modified. 

Here's how I make my scramble:

1.) Take a block of tofu and drain any liquid, if you prefer the scramble to be dry then pat with a kitchen towel. (It doesn't have to be firmed first as your going to scramble it). 

2.) Heat some oil in a frying pan then add the tofu and begin to break it up in the pan.

2.) Fry the onions separately till lightly brown, then add the tomatoes and fry for a couple of minutes.

3.) Boil some spinach, do this towards the end as this only takes around 4 mins.

4.) When the tofu is cooked after around 6-8 mins, add the fried onions and tomatoes. Stir in (approximately) a teaspoon of turmeric then add some salt and black pepper.

5.) Serve with veggie sausages or vegan 'meat' substitute. Also equally nice on toast or a bagel. 

I also recommend adding generous amounts of turmeric to rice and curry dishes. Another easy way to make sure you get a large dose of turmeric into your daily diet is by taking capsules. I have been taking Viridian capsules as in my opinion these are the best brand (and vegan too), you can get them from Revital stores or online here.

Do you have any great turmeric recipes to share?

READY, SET, GLOW!

As promised here is my review for the Lily Lolo goodies I purchased last week. Now I don't profess to be a make up buff or anything like that, I'm just a girl that enjoys wearing make-up, like everyday, as in won't even go to the shops without at least a slick of mascara and concealer! 

I don't even particularly like to experiment with makeup either but must have tried out every brand going when trying to pin down my everyday faithfuls. Until now my signature look has always been: Rimmel wake me up liquid foundation and concealer (switching to Chanel whenever I could afford it), Max Factor finishing powder, YSL or Mac red lipstick, Chanel black crayon eyeliner, Benefit 'They're Real' mascara, Rimmel Autumn blush/Nars orgasm and a Bobbi Brown brick palette for a neutral eye.

That was pretty much me, day in day out, you could say I was stuck in a make-up rut. So to try out something new was pretty exciting and I'm so glad I did! As you know I'm on a quest to find natural, alternative products as I don't want to lather chemicals or lead on my face every day (see earlier post here) and Lily Lolo was exactly what I was looking for. I found the brand through the ravingly good reviews on MakeUpAlley.com and once I saw the price of their mineral starter kit I was sold. At only £13.49 for a starter kit and sample size products on offer, it makes it easy to take the leap of faith and experiment with getting the right shade of mineral foundation. I actually needn't have bothered with the kit as I bought a sample of 'Warm Peach' foundation alongside it and I knew that was the perfect shade for me as soon as I tried it, proving the website's Shade Guide to be extremely accurate. Alongside 3 foundation shades, the 'light' kit also contained a baby Buki brush and the sheer finishing powder.

I am in Love with the results, I really wasn't expecting too much as I doubted that mineral powder, dusted on lightly with a fluffy brush could give me the same kind of coverage as a liquid foundation slapped on heavily with my fingers! I did dip the brush in a couple of times when applying but you only need a very small amount of product each time. It was all so easy to apply and even has the little separator holes so you don't use too much product or have any spillages. You must be sure to moisturise first though as the powder will highlight any dry patches. The final effect was lovely and glowing, my skin barely felt like I was wearing any makeup at all! I also have quite dark circles so the yellow corrector did a good job at disguising them too, I bought one of their sponges to apply this but it didn't work very well so ended up using one of my own brushes instead so would definitely get one of their concealer brush next time.